324 TRINIDAD. 



delicious pine apples. The quarter, unfortunately, is rapidly on the 

 decline. It possessed at one time seven sugar estates ; there now 

 remains but one in full cultivation. Guapo very much resembles 

 La Brea ; the soil, however, may be rated as of better quality, 

 particularly on the slopes towards the rivers. Besides the Vessini 

 and Guapo rivers both tidal streams there are two or three 

 smaller currents ; and the whole line of the Guapo coast is bounded 

 by high lands, with depressions here and there, which are so many 

 outlets to the rivers and brooks. Once a flourishing district, Guapo 

 boasted of its eleven sugar estates, all under the administration of 

 their resident proprietors. But one is now to be found in a culti- 

 vated state, the others having been abandoned, some previous to, 

 others since, emancipation. The inhabitants of this ward are gen- 

 erally poor, but peaceable and moral. The population of La Brea, 

 sickly ; that of Guapo, more healthy. 



The quarter of La Brea, owing its name to the great quantity of 

 bitumen, or pitch Spanish, Irea; French, brai which is found 

 everywhere in this district, and forms the Pitch lake, is, on this 

 account, one of the most interesting spots in the island. Every 

 stranger who can spare a few days in Trinidad will do well to pay 

 a short visit to this great natural curiosity of the country. A 

 steamer, which plies between Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, 

 touches twice a- week at La Brea, viz., every Wednesday and 

 Saturday. On Saturday the steamer proceeds as far as Cedros, 

 after touching at La Brea, so that there is sufficient time to visit the 

 lake during the interval of its return. On Wednesdays the steamer 

 stops at La Brea, and an opportunity is then afforded the visitor 

 of inspecting the lake, and returning to San Fernando at night, 

 in order to be ready for a return passage by the steamer next day : 

 or again, he might leave Port-of-Spain on Tuesday evening, sleep 

 at San Fernando, and start early on Wednesday morning for the 

 lake in a boat, so as to catch the returning steamer in the evening. 

 The early morning is the best time for visiting the lake. 



The lake and its scenery have already been described by so 

 many persons, that it would be a work of supererogation to enter 

 into many details here ; I shall, therefore, limit myself to offering 

 only a few remarks. The Pitch lake, or great bitumen deposit of 

 Trinidad, is situated at Pointe La Brea, on an elevation at about 

 one mile from the sea. The road to the lake is the ward-road of 

 the quarter. This deposit covers an area of nearly one hundred 



